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A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging

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Microplastics Modulate Carbon Sequestration in Paddy Fields by Regulating Rhizosphere Silicon Mobility.

Linan Liu^1,2, Xinzuo Yang¹, Qiang Li³

¹MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

|October 14, 2025

Summary

Microplastics impact silicon cycling in rice paddies. Biodegradable microplastics (PLA) initially boost carbon storage, but both PLA and polyethylene (PE) disrupt long-term soil carbon sequestration.

Keywords:

carbon−silicon coupling emerging pollutants microbial metabolism plant biomass rice rhizosphere

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Biogeochemistry
Soil Science

Background:

Microplastics (MPs) are known to alter microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling.
The impact of MPs on silicon (Si)-mediated C sequestration in paddy ecosystems is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how biodegradable (PLA) and nondegradable (PE) MPs affect Si dynamics, microbial C/N metabolism, and soil C storage in paddy fields.
To elucidate the dual role of MPs in short-term C accumulation and long-term disruption of C-Si biogeochemical cycles.

Main Methods:

A rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth-cycle microcosm experiment was conducted.
Analyzed changes in rhizosphere Si dynamics, microbial C/N metabolism, and soil C storage under PLA and PE treatments.
Assessed Si uptake, C accumulation in grains and shoots, N mineralization, and gene expression related to C fixation.

Main Results:

PLA treatment increased C accumulation in rice grains (+33%) and shoots (+10%), while PE reduced it (26-40%), linked to altered Si uptake.
Both MP types reduced Si bioavailability and aggregate stability, indicating long-term Si pool depletion.
PLA enhanced N mineralization and labile organic C but downregulated C fixation genes, undermining persistent C storage.

Conclusions:

MPs exert a dual effect on paddy ecosystems: transiently increasing C accumulation via Si uptake, but ultimately disrupting the C-Si coupled biogeochemical cycle.
Biodegradable and nondegradable MPs pose long-term risks to soil C storage and ecosystem function in paddy fields.